It seems like that’s what is building up to, with the surprise announcement Thursday that Fox McCloud, of the “Star Fox” and “Super Smash Bros.” video games, is joining the film.

Fans have hoped that space pilot Fox could be in the movie after brief appearance in previous “Super Mario Galaxy Movie” trailer. Now, it’s all true.

No voice actor has been announced for Fox yet.

Fox was first introduced in the 1993 action-adventure game “Star Fox” on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and later in “Star Fox 64,” “Star Fox Adventures,” “Star Fox: Assault,” “Star Fox: Command” and most recently 2017’s “Star Fox 2.”

However, many gamers know Fox from the game series “Super Smash Bros.,” which brings together characters from across Nintendo properties and beyond to beat each other up.

Fox was one of the first fighters in 1999’s original Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64, and he’s been in every iteration since — just like Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong and Yoshi. Other “Mario” characters like Bowser, Bowser Jr., Peach, Rosalina and Diddy Kong joined the series later. Fox’s co-pilot Falco was brought in for “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” and the villainous Wolf was added in “Brawl.”